A DIY savvy couple have transformed their rundown property into a sleek modern home – with the renovation adding £110,000 to its value.
Trishna Daji, 31, and her husband Riam Daji, 32, both from Solihull, Birmingham have always had a passion for interior design.
In November 2017 they purchased a dilapidated property for £320,000 and started their ambitious renovation works – doing everything themselves and working on the house every single day for 18 months.
With the help of family members, the couple stripped the property down to its bones, giving it a complete makeover with a fitted kitchen-diner extension, underfloor heating and modern furnishings.
Trishna Daji, 31, and her husband Riam Daji, 32, both from Solihull, Birmingham, transformed their rundown property into a sleek modern home
The couple, who have always had a passion for interior design, did the majority of the work themselves. Pictured before and after, the impression kitchen transformation
The entire renovation set the couple back £77,000 – but they could not be more pleased with the outcome.
Trishna, who works as an event manager, explained: ‘I have always had a passion for interior design – and still do!
‘I create mood boards on Pinterest and Instagram of my dream home, so I couldn’t wait to turn that into a reality.
‘Looking at incredible house transformations and the before and after photos really inspired me and from that point, I knew I wanted to buy a rundown house and do it up however I wanted!
The entire renovation set the couple back £77,000 – but they could not be more pleased with the outcome
In November 2017 the couple purchased a dilapidated property for £320,000 and started their ambitious renovation works. Pictured before and after: the master bedroom
The couple transformed their master bedroom by wallpapering a feature wall and adding chic modern accessories and a stylish bed
‘I knew there would be a lot of hard work involved but we were prepared and determined to take on the project and looking back, I am so glad we did.’
The couple told how their move-in date was pushed back four times which made them worry if they were making the right decision.
Trishna admitted it was a big project to take on and at times they feared they’d bitten off more than they could chew – but insisted that spurred them on to work harder.
Explaining the renovation process, Trishna added: ‘When we first saw the house, we automatically got that excited feeling and had the vision of what we could do.
Trishna admitted it was a big project to take on and at times they feared they’d bitten off more than they could chew. Pictured: the bathroom before and after
Trishna was inspired after seeing property transformation photographs on Pinterest and Instagram. Pictured: the bathroom now
The couple spent months stripping walls and restoring the house to its bare bones. Pictured: the upstairs hallway before and after
Trishna, who works as an event manager, said she has always had a passion for interior design and had a vision of her dream home
In their lounge the couple replaced the tired fireplace with a more modern alternative and painted the alcoves to give it a trendy vibe. Pictured before and after
Every room in the house underwent a radical makeover, including the hallway and stairs (pictured before and after)
The couple carried out the majority of the renovation work themselves, with support from their families, but did outsource some jobs to professionals
The couple worked with an architect to design the kitchen diner extension and stripped the house back to a blank canvas while waiting for plans to be approved. Pictured: the extension going up, and complete
Despite the hard work, the couple said they always knew it would we worth it because of the potential of the house. Pictured: Riam gets stuck in on the groundworks
The couple had the ground floor removed and underfloor heating installed, plumbed and re-wired the whole house. Pictured: the kitchen-diner extension during construction and after
‘The house was very run down but we knew it had so much potential!
‘As soon as we got the keys, we worked with an architect to design the kitchen diner extension and while waiting for plans to be approved we stripped the house back to a blank canvas.
‘We removed wallpaper, carpet, doors, tiles, fixtures and fittings. You name it, everything went!
‘We had the ground floor removed and underfloor heating installed, plumbed and re-wired the whole house.
‘Fresh concrete was laid on the ground floor, then the house was plastered.
‘When we got to this stage, we could finally start thinking about the fun stuff, which was interior design!’
The couple carried out the majority of the renovation work themselves, with support from their families, but did outsource some jobs to professionals, including the extension, plumbing and groundworks.
‘We used to spend every day at the house for 18 months, painting, plastering, and knocking walls out – but we always knew it would we worth it because of the potential of the house was always clear to us,’ Trishna said.
‘During the pandemic, a lot of jobs have been pushed back but slowly and surely the final touches brought everything together. You just have to be patient and look at the bigger picture.’
After 18 months of hard work, their new home was complete. Their property is now valued at an estimated £430,000 – £110,000 more than the price they purchased their home for.
Trishna added: ‘We are so proud of how far we have come and what we have achieved.
‘To be honest, we still pinch ourselves that this is our home!
‘We still have some little ongoing project, mainly just the finishing touches but as we are moved in and settled, there is no particular rush to get these done.’
Speaking to others who wish to renovate their home, Trishna advised: ‘Have no regrets and do things within your means – but if your budget can stretch, take that leap of faith, it’s so worth it in the end, and always keep your eyes peeled for inspiration.’